The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-29
O'CONNOR AND EsMONDE.
The Two Home-Rule Advocates Address an
Immense Audience of IrishrAmericans.

Inc Two H0me-Rule Advocates ADDRESS al
Immense Audience of Irish Americans.
CHICAGO, Oct 28.-Ths Irish meeting held at
Battery d Armory, this evening, i'm
mense gathering of about TO- 900 Irish Americans
and Irish citizens to hear Arthur O'Connor, NJ.
p. and Mr.. Esmonde, II. P. on Home-rule in
Ireland. The meeting was presided over by
Judge Moran, of the Appellate Court of this city
On the platform were a great number
of prominent citizens. Judge Moran in intro
ducing the speakers. said that Notwithstanding
the fact that Irishmen were loyal to their
mother country. their loyalty to this country
unquestioned, as Mr.. Chamberlain would
discover without much effort at investigation.
He deprecated the fact that the rumor had gone
abroad that the love of certain people in America
for the Irish cause was a ruse to catch the Irish
vote, but they would discover that Irshmen
were not so easily duped He dwelt on atlength.
and eloquently reviewed, the Irish cause. He
took great pleasure in introducing Mr.. Arthur
O'Connor, who was received with the widest
enthusiasm.
Mr. OConnor in cano dignified manner,
spoke on the situation in ireland. He felt that
many would prefer that he advocate extreme
measures and physical force; but said that as
they were in Ireland they were supposed to be-
the best judges of the mode OF procedure. which
was constitutional agitation. and it were better
to receive from England's right hand Irish home
rule than to wiring it by force from England's
left hand, which might be recovered again at
the first favorable opportunity The fight was
dot the Irish against the English. but
between a Tory government and the National
League He reverted Mr.. Chamberain's
proposed visit to this country as an English
commissioner. He advised the Irish in Amer
lea to treat Mr.. Cham berlain as Mr. Gladstone
has done. and not forget that he is the guest of
the United States while here and that they are
citizens. He said the Irish parliamentary party
had adopted the motto of General Grant and
that they will fight the battle out il 1t takes all
winter
At the allusion made by Mr.. OConnor to Gen
eral Grant there tumultuous applause
JUDGE Moran, in introducing Mr.. Esmonde,
reverted to the struggle the repeal OF the
union in ireland, about 100 years ago. and said
it was a good augury that in the present strug-
gle Irish landlord with the blood of Henry
Grattan in bis veins was found In the RANKS or
the Irish party in this struggle
Mr.. Esmonde spoke at length reviewing the
acts of the Irish party and the plan of campaign.
1--WE are" said he, fighting the same battle In
Ireland that your forefathers did in America
over hundred years ago. England then
wanted to force free trade upon you, and you
would not submit; she tried to coerce you, but
you claimed the right to manage your own at
fairs. and you have been doing 1t ever since" He
alluded to the jubilee coercion act. and asked the
people of the United States, who have enabled
them to struggle against concentrated power
in En- gland. to aid this time. and he confidently
hoped it would be the last struggle. 1--WE have
been coercod SO often. said he, that we are
getting used to It, and We do not care for 1t,
one jot in struggle for homo rule" He. too.
paid his respects to Mr. Chamberlain. and
ikened him to ancient oracle that never
spoke the same thing twice.
The following resolutions were adopted
The Irish American citizens of Chicago assembled
under the auspices of the Irish National League of
Hon. Thomas Grattan Esmonde. NJ. P. brothers who
to accredited from the people of Ire
and his colleagues. We thank them for bringing
that the struggle in which has been
gagged for centuries xganst odds that would have dis
heartened q people less conscious OF the power or
right and less resolute in their determination to
is now nearing it's victory We ask them to tell the
democrats of England Scotland and Wales, on their
demand for home rule are demonstrated in every
State of the American Union by the profound order,
the diversified industries. the selfreepect of seo
pie whose position and advancement are the result
only of their individual labor; by free education
the peaceful methods provided for changing thesss
whenever the will of the people ordains that they
of the British islands that they have in this
country the machinery of for and by the
divisions. the entire system characterized BY SIM
pcity and convenience and We urge the study or our
free republican institutions upon them with conf
dence and hope that they will yet adj them as their
who. shaking off the prejudices which have obscured
ireland from Ter neighbors and have sought the
truth for themselves within her limits. We n
graduate those of them who have already had
of British ja1ls n Ireland and who would never have
been able properly to appreciate English law and
justice there had they remained in their respec
tive countries
We look with admiration and solictude upon the
gigantic labors of VIM. E. Gladstone who, at the age
when seek seclusion and rest. is endeavor-
ing solidfy the people of the three islands into
splendid and irresistible union, whose strength
ders the establishment of home-rule not only in Ire
land but also in England Scotland and Wales inev-
liable.
We declare, as citizens of free republic. to whose
Constitution and laws feel unalterable attachment
and for whose permanency we are ready to shed our
blood fathers and brothers have done. that
government which cannot tolerate free public meet
ings by the governed and whose DEGREES and admin
istraton dare not be subjected to the INDEPENDENT
criticism of free is corrupt at heart vile in
spirit and infamous in operation: and applaud tn e
ingenious and magnificent strategies by which our
brethren in Ireland defving coercion outwtting
its bosses, and capturing its minions Our moral and
material support shall continue to be given to the
Irish National League in Ireland. under Parnell Da
witt and their associates until the object for which it
exists shall be extraordinarily. the legislative inde-
pendence of Ireland: and the friends of that
to back their words with their money.
Hon. John Finerty then spoke briefly. The
meeting adjourned at 11:30 o'clock.